Inhibitory drug-drug interactions (DDIs) are a considerable concern as inhibition of drug's clearance can lead to increased plasma concentrations and subsequent adverse events and toxicities. Fluoxetine (Prozac®) is a widely prescribed antidepressant, but is also a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. Fluoxetine was chosen as the model inhibitor for this study because it is a clinically important inhibitor of multiple CYP enzymes with varying potencies for each isoform. From in vitro data, fluoxetine is predicted to be a moderate inhibitor of CYP2D6, but a strong inhibitor of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4. However, in vivo fluoxetine causes a potent interaction with CYP2D6 and a weak-to-no interaction with CYP3A4. The magnitude of the in vivo interaction of fluoxetine with CYP2C19 is not known. This in vitro-to-in vivo discrepancy is of concern for two reasons: 1) In clinical drug development, in vivo drug-drug interactions are tested only when in vitro experiments predict a risk for in vivo DDIs and 2) Because in vivo DDI's are tested using a rank order approach of going from the most potent in vitro interaction to the least potent until no interaction in vivo is observed. In this study the interaction between fluoxetine and CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 will be quantified simultaneously and the quantitative in vitro-to-in vivo predictions tested. Fluoxetine will be orally administered daily for 14 days and CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 activity will be tested in the end of fluoxetine dosing using a cocktail of CYP probes including caffeine, midazolam, omeprazole and dextromethorphan. Lovastatin will be administered on a separate day and used as a second CYP3A4 probe to test whether CYP3A4 inhibition by fluoxetine depends on the contribution of intestinal CYP3A4 to the probe clearance. Plasma and urine samples will be collected for 12 and 24 hrs, respectively, during the control sessions (before fluoxetine administration) and for 24 hrs during the treatment sessions (fluoxetine multiple dose). The concentrations of each of the probe drugs and their metabolites (when applicable) as well as fluoxetine and its metabolites will be measured in the collected samples and pharmacokinetic analysis will be performed. The primary outcome measures for CYP inhibition will be the increase in the area under plasma concentrations time curve (AUC) of each of the probes.The null hypothesis of this study is that the area under plasma concentrations time curves (AUCs) of caffeine, dextromethorphan, omeprazole, midazolam or lovastatin are the same between the control session and the fluoxetine session. Because lovastatin has the greatest variability in its baseline pharmacokinetics the study was powered based on the specific null hypothesis for lovastatin. The alternative hypothesis is that fluoxetine decreases the clearance of the probe drugs resulting in a significant increase in the AUCs between the control and study sessions.

Fluoxetine-CYP3A4 DDI [ Time Frame: The primary outcome will be assessed within 2 months after the last subject is enrolled or at 2 years from the start of study enrollment, which ever is sooner. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Our primary outcome measure will be the interaction of fluoxetine with CYP3A4. A 50% increase in the AUC for lovastatin plus hydroxylovastatin acid (the active form of lovastatin) between treatment and control days is considered clinically significant.

Secondary Outcome Measures:

Fluoxetine-Cocktail DDI [ Time Frame: The secondary outcome will be assessed within 2 months after the last subject is enrolled or at 2 years from the start of study enrollment, which ever is sooner. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

Our secondary outcome measure will be the interaction between fluoxetine and each CYP evaluated in the cocktail. A 50% increase in the AUC of caffeine (CYP1A2), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), omeprazole (CYP2C19) or midazolam (CYP3A4) between treatment and control days is considered clinically significant. The interaction of fluoxetine with caffeine (CYP1A2) will be considered as a negative control for the study.

Subjects must have no known allergies to fluoxetine or other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), benzodiazepine drugs, caffeine, omeprazole, dextromethorphan, lovastatin or any chemically related drug.

Women of childbearing age must be willing to use measures to avoid conception during the study period and willing to have a pregnancy test on Study Days 1 and 16.

Subjects must agree not to take any known substrates, inhibitors, inducers or activators ofcyrochrome P450 (CYP) CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 for two weeks before the start of each study through three weeks after the last day of study. This list includes but is not restricted to antidepressant and antipsychotic agents, azole antifungal agents, macrolide antibiotics, anti-epileptic medications, antihypertensive agents and cholesterol lowering agents. They must also be willing to avoid ingesting grapefruit, grapefruit juice or other grapefruit containing products, and any herbal-based nutrient supplement or medication for the same period of time. Use of oral contraceptives will be permitted.

Subjects must be willing to avoid caffeine-containing foods, beverages, or dietary supplements for 24 hrs prior to and throughout each study session and avoid alcohol for 48 hrs prior to and throughout each study session.

Use of chronic prescription or over-the-counter medications (except oral contraceptives)

Use of antidepressants during the last two weeks preceding the study

Contacts and Locations

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Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01361217

Locations

United States, Washington

University of Washington, Institute of Translational Health Sciences, Clinical Research Center

Seattle, Washington, United States, 98195

Sponsors and Collaborators

University of Washington

National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS)

Investigators

Principal Investigator:

Nina Isoherranen, PhD.

University of Washington, School of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutics